The "leather" look

There's a misconception out there that curvaceous women shouldn't wear full skirts.  Well, in my humble opinion, we can wear anything we like (within reason of course), because we have every right to choose!   For too long we've been told we shouldn't wear this and we shouldn't wear that - but now is the time to decide for ourselves.

Jibri (USA) has this fantastic faux-leather skirt.   Feast your eyes on this, and visit their site to see more of their great clothing.

Imagination

You've got to give credit to Monif C (USA), not only for her incredible knack of creating clothing that is exciting for the more curvaceous woman, but for a number of other things too.

Amongst those are the fact that her models are exquisitely "rounded" while many other suppliers persist on using much thinner models.  Garments made for a plus-size woman do NOT look the same as they should when they're worn and modelled by someone who looks like a young adolescent!

This post is entitled "Imagination", and if you haven't yet heard of Monif C's Convertible Marilyn Dress when you haven't lived!   This particular garment wowed the world when it first appeared, and there's no ending to Monif C's variations.  She keeps on coming up trumps!

Here are two of her latest Marilyn dresses - aren't the colour combinations superb?

ONE DRESS, INFINITE POSSIBILITIES

The "Marilyn" Ruched Convertible Dress gives you the versatility of the convertible dress but with beautiful, figure flattering ruching. You can wrap this dress multiple ways! This one dress will stretch your wardrobe and give you a different dress for all of your upcoming occasions!    

Quirky!

I just love quirky clothes.  Clothes that make you smile.   Clothes that make you feel free and empowered to be who and what you are, without fear of judgement or ridicule.

The Carpenters Daughter has this new line which I think is absolutely gorgeous.  Stripes every-which-way, a great top, tiger leggings and a cami tunic which can be worn with so many other garments.  Sizes 12-24.

Tell me what you think?

One jacket

I can no longer count the number of times someone says to me, I can't see how I can wear one garment other than the way I always wear it.

So to those who think one garment only has one part to play in her wardrobe, here's an example of one jacket, worn slightly differently in three ways, all with the clever use of accessories to highlight it.

Now just think of how many other ways you could wear this same jacket.   A black pencil thin skirt; a slightly flared skirt; chocolate brown pants; black or chocolate brown cargoes,  knee length shorts;  white pants in different lengths; then why not terracotta red pants; skirts; belts;  bags etc.?

Different hats, handbags, belts and shoes not to mention different ear-rings and bangles and necklets, and even scarves, will always compliment a single garment like this, and expand your wardrobe into many areas to meet the requirements of your life-style.   Casual, conservative, semi formal - you name it.  

Now do you get the idea?

Florals!

Looks like florals are making a real comeback, even in leggings!  While I'm not particularly keen to add a tight pair of floral leggings to my wardrobe, I will certainly be tempted to considering floral tops, tunic tops or jackets.    It can take a bit of practice to get things right when it comes to clever dressing and getting the colour scheme to suit you (including contrasts), but when you become more adept at seeing yourself in colours it becomes a lot easier.  And believe me, it's great fun.  We've got a lot going for us you know, we curvaceous ones, because there's more of us to enhance!

I was talking to a group of ladies this morning and they were bemoaning the fact that there's no colour around.   It didn't take long to realise that they were talking about life in general - it seems the grey skies of Melbourne have really dampened their spirits.  One even said her garden was a mess as there wasn't a touch of colour showing as yet and that Spring was terribly late.   I took the camera out when I got home just to see whether there was any colour in my garden and yes, while it wasn't obvious, it just takes a different frame of mind to see what is around us, when we think everything is dull and grey.  Even the tiny, tiny little new shoots on the rose bush.   I was once again reminded that nature comes up with some lovely colour combinations.

Well, even though I admit that this Winter is very lengthy and VERY cold, it's amazing just what colour there is around us.  I noticed a little girl of about 2 this morning dressed up in her favourite football team's colours - red and black, and that got me to thinking just how versatile these two colours are.  In fact I've highlighted black and red a couple of times recently.

But if we take note of the fact that florals are back in vogue, why not make the most of them.  Because from what I've seen so far, these florals are BIG in size and big in intensity of colour.   No little tiny flowers but big, bold, blatant, blazing floral designs, some slightly abstract.  But all making a statement, and this is what we need to do, make a statement to the world, as well as to ourselves.   We may be big but we surely can be bold and beautiful!

Jumping the gun!

No, I'm not referring to any race at the Olympic Games!   What I'm referring to is getting in early for summer!

Summer I hear you ask?  When we're experiencing top temperatures of 12 degrees?  Well, yes, I am thinking about summer, because when it arrives quite often there isn't the same choice of swimwear around!  Everybody else has beaten us through the store doors.

I received my Ezibuy catalogue yesterday, and as always there are some lovely garments for the young, slim and trim.  But I'm always eager to see what the Sara range is all about.   The page on swimwear has some nice offerings.  At first I thought - they're nice but why not give us a selection of colours?  Yet when I thought more about it, I came to the conclusion that the colours of "Ink", that sort of blue that melds with almost anything and bright white are just the thing to represent bright blue skies and white sands.

Here's an example of the Sara range of swimwear.   I've also included their sizings, as we all know the confusion and frustration we feel when we really don't have a clue about manufacturers/suppliers precise sizings.

Curvaceous, feminine and flirty!

The young curvaceous woman has everything going for her.  That includes some gorgeous fashion.   The local City Chic group has some lovely garments at the moment, and if you're in the mood for parties then you can't miss out on something like this - their Eyelash Frill Dress. - up to size XXL (size 24).   Why not even get in early for your Christmas dress?  You'll "light" up more than just a mere room!

City Chic's writeup is as follows:  "Look and feel beautiful in this Eyelash Frill Dress.  This soft and floaty woven style flows beautifully and features gorgeous frills with an eyelash hem, a boned bodice with shirring on sides,  adjustable straps, invisible zip closure and is fully lined."

LAYERING!

I can't count the number of times someone has said to me I don't understand it when you talk about layering.  Is it that the concept itself is difficult to understand or is it that sometimes women have difficulty in establishing what layering can do for them?

Having been a great devotee of layering from "way back", I like seeing some of the newer suppliers who use colours and layering to great effect.   In fact a recent post covered this very same subject, but I thought it was well worth re-visiting, with this lovely outfit just being promoted by Taking Shape 14 plus here in Australia.  

Their garments are sized from 14-24 (Australian sizings).

I love the red used as the major base colour with white, black and floral used to enhance the outfit.

For those of you who don't usually think about "layering", see how many layers you can find at very first glance and think about how YOU can use layering to great effect to compliment and enhance your looks and wardrobe.

Underwear verus "Lingerie"

Being more curvaceous than some means going without many of the nice pleasures of life.   Too often people (and I include manufacturers and retailers) think that just because there is a little "more of us" then we are less of a person.

And being less of a person in many people's minds and attitudes means that we're treated differently to women of petite or "typical" sizes.  Why?

It all comes down to the fact that because we have flesh on our bodies that any garment will need more fabric, and quite often a different "engineering" perspective to create something that will enhance and compliment our curves.

So it is with undies.    Underwear has undergone radical and technological changes over the decades.   "Bloomers" are practical - yes, but let's face it when we dress up we'd like to have beautiful lingerie as the basis of that outfit.

So it's nice to see that women's "lingerie" has kept pace with the modern woman's expectations of what she likes and what she wants!   It's taken a while though for manufacturers to get "with it" and realise that the more buxom woman wants the same thing as her thinner and slimmer sister but there are many websites offering beautiful lingerie - and at affordable prices.

Here's an example from Yandy USA - their range of "plus-size" lingerie is very tempting.   Sizings?  Up to 4X (American).

Am I biased?

I've been studying "big issues" for a long time now - quite a few decades in fact.   So I think I can speak authoritatively on many aspects as they relate to the more curvaceous woman.   For those of you who are not on my mailing list for the monthly newsletter, then you will not be aware that many of the more pertinent subjects that impact upon our lives are covered within its pages, while this blog focusses on "fashion".  Contact me if you'd like to be added to my mailing list.

There are times when I think I am very "positive-thinking" while at other times I have to admit I do tend towards pessimism.   Especially when it comes to "FULL" acceptance across the board for the bigger woman, whether it be in the home, her career or even within her family and circle of acquaintances.

But let's get back to "fashion".   Now everyone knows we wear clothes - whether we're a size zero or a size 5X.  It's quite obvious that we NEED to wear clothes otherwise we'd be naked and charged with "indecent exposure"!  LOL.  

I get disappointed at times with what is dished up as "fashion" for the more curvaceous woman here in Australia - even moreso when I see the clothing that is provided, and on offer from overseas.   At more or less similar prices.

I'm showing a comparison here of an Australian supplier and an American supplier.   The garments are of a similar type - casual yet with the ability to be worn after hours meeting with friends or going out for dinner after work.  

The title of this post is "AM I BIASED?".   And I've thought about this a lot.   When I compare the two  - Australian and American - I have to come to the conclusion that the Australian product is to my mind second-class.  It's probably OK to wear VERY casually, but the American product is wearable for any occasion and will always look smart.  The quality of the fabric says a lot too, and this current trend of using stretchy-crepey fabric for the majority of clothes over here to me smacks of a "don't really care" attitude by the manufacturer/supplier/retailer.  This type of fabric doesn't wash well and garments soon need to be replaced!  Unfortunately women purchase this fabric because too often there's nothing better on offer.

Another thing that should be taken into account too is that having to replace items so often, even if they are "cheap" or inexpensive, is that in the long run they cost more than a garment in a better quality fabric at a higher price in the first place.

For those women who like to build up a wardrobe of intelligent, mix-n-match items, budgets do come into the picture and how much wiser it is to invest in good quality, stylish, ageless garments to meet that ambition.

No, I don't think I'm biased, after all!